Farming and Rural Enterprise Manager

Northumberland National Park; Hexham; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Northumberland National Park is seeking a Farms and Rural Enterprise Manager to lead the Farming and Rural Enterprise Team, shaping strategy and delivery across partnerships and funding streams. You will drive environmental improvements, habitat connectivity, and resilient farming systems across the landscape.

You will influence landowners and stakeholders, ensuring effective governance, monitoring and reporting, with hybrid working from Rothbury or Hexham and national park travel.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent senior-level experience in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural policy, grants schemes and rural land management.
• Experience with agri-environment schemes and rural funding programmes.
• Proven track record delivering collaborative projects with partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Farming and Rural Enterprise Team, including performance management.
• Work strategically with farmers and partners to deliver environmental targets and sustainable farming systems.
• Develop landscape-scale delivery plans across multiple funding programmes.
• Provide specialist advice on farming, natural capital, and rural enterprise.
• Lead on complex projects and contribute to policy and development activities.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and funders.
• Develop data, monitoring and reporting to demonstrate impact and value.

Skills

IT skills

GIS

Microsoft 365

Teams

Negotiation

Influencing

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree or equivalent senior-level experience

Tools

GIS

Microsoft 365

Teams

Job description

Help shape the future of farming, naturerecoveryand rural enterprise in Northumberland

Are you passionate about farming, landmanagementand the future of our rural landscapes?

Do you have the experience and influence to work with farmers, landowners,communitiesand partners to deliver positive environmental change at a landscape scale?

Northumberland National Park Authority is looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Farming and Rural Enterprise Manager to join our Park Management Directorate.

This is an exciting opportunity to

The role

Reporting to the Head of Farming and Rural Enterprise, you will lead the Farming and Rural Enterprise Team , providing strategic direction, effectivemanagementand collaborative leadership.

You will work at the heart of some of the National Park’s most important land management and nature recovery initiatives, helping to deliver the ambitions of the 25 YearEnvironment Plan, 30x30 targets, Northumberland National Park Management Plan, Authority Business Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy .

A key part of your role will be working with land managers to develop more resilient farming systems while delivering environmental improvements, habitatconnectivityand nature recovery across the landscape.

You will lead the development and delivery of prioritised programmes across a range of funding and activity streams, including Farming in Protected Landscapes, Wildlife Rich Habitats, 30x30deliveryandagri-environment programmes .

You will also help bring together major initiatives including Hadrian’s Wall Wetlands Landscape Recovery, theNorth EastFarm Business Support Service and the Resilient Landscapes Programme , ensuring that our work delivers integrated outcomes for farming,natureand rural communities.

Whatyou’llbe doing

As a senior member of the Park Management team, you will:

• Lead, manage and develop the Farming and Rural Enterprise Team, including work programming, performancemanagementand staff development.
• Work strategically with farmers,landownersand partners to deliver environmental improvement and habitat targets alongside resilient and sustainable farming systems.
• Develop and oversee landscape-scale delivery plans across multiple funding programmes.
• Providespecialist advice on farming, land management, natural capital, naturerecoveryand rural enterprise.
• Lead on complex cases and provide expert input into projects, policies,strategiesand Development Management activities.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of partners, stakeholders, agencies, landmanagersand rural businesses.
• Develop effective data,monitoringand reporting systems todemonstrateimpact and support funding and organisationalobjectives.
• Support the Head of Farming and Rural Enterprise with national and regional policy development.
• Help maximise external funding and ensure that programmes deliver value for money and meaningful outcomes.
• Champion farming, land management, naturerecoveryand rural enterprise within the Authority and with external organisations.
• Ensure that health and safety, equality, inclusion, GDPR and other statutory responsibilities are effectively managed within the team.

About you

You will be an experienced professional with a strong understanding of agriculture, rural landmanagementand the natural environment , together with the ability to lead people and influence others to achieve sharedobjectives.

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent senior-level experience in a relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural and forestry land management policy, grantschemesand techniques for delivering environmental improvement and habitat connectivity.
• Knowledge of current natural environment policy and the challenges facing rural upland communities.
• Experience of working withagri-environment schemes and other rural grant programmes.
• A successfultrack recordof developing and delivering collaborative projects with partners.
• Experience of working with communities,agenciesand organisations to achieve shared outcomes.
• Experience ofprovidingspecialist advice to support policy, strategy, DevelopmentManagementand delivery activities.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills, particularly when working with landowners and other stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365,Teamsand GIS applications.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop a team while building positive and productive working relationships.

You will be comfortable working outdoors and travelling throughout the National Park, including walking for extended periods over rugged upland terrain.

It would be great if you also have:

• Knowledge and experience of working within National Parks or other protected landscapes.
• Practical experience of fieldwork in an upland environment.
• Experience of developing successful grant applications and securingadditionalfunding.
• A sound understanding of health and safety procedures.

This is a chance to make a genuine difference to one of England’s most outstanding landscapes.

You’llwork alongside passionate colleagues and partners to help create a future where farming, nature recovery and rural communities can thrive together . From supporting resilient farm businesses to delivering landscape-scale habitat restoration, your work will have a direct and lasting impact across Northumberland National Park.

You’llalsobenefitfrom a hybrid working approach , with the opportunity to work from our offices in Rothbury or Hexham , alongside travel throughout the National Park.

Ready to make a difference?

If you have theexpertise, leadershipskillsand passion to help shape the future of farming and rural enterprise in Northumberland,we’dlove to hear from you.

Salary: Band 6 —£41,771 – £46,142 per annum
Contract: Fixed term to 31 March 2029
Location: Rothbury or Hexham, with hybrid working
Closing date: 14 September 2026
Interview date: 22 September 2026

Northumberland National Park Authority is committed to promoting equality, inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.